Photo of the week

This #PlacerLife photo of vernal pools in West Placer was posted by @placercountyconservation on Instagram. Follow them for more land conservation updates!

Featured story

Placer County joins Caltrans for major project designed to relieve congestion on I-80

Officials from the Placer County Transportation Agency and Board of Supervisors joined Caltrans to break ground this week on a major Interstate 80 project that will help relieve traffic congestion between Roseville and Rocklin.

The $49.5 million project includes building an eastbound auxiliary lane between state Route 65 and Rocklin Road and a two-lane off-ramp. Crews will also construct a fifth lane on westbound I-80 between Douglas Boulevard and Riverside Avenue and will reconfigure the Douglas Boulevard off-ramp from two lanes to one. 

Placer officials commended the project, funded in part by Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act

“I am thrilled to have been part of the groundbreaking with my colleagues on the board and see this vital project becoming a reality,” said Supervisor Suzanne Jones, chair of the PCTPA. “It is even more gratifying that it is becoming so because of the collaboration between federal, state and local agencies that is so characteristic of the Placer way of getting things done!”

Work is expected to be completed by the summer of 2024. Read more

Community development

Learn more about Placer County’s Housing Needs Rezone Program at town hall meeting

Placer County’s Community Development Resource Agency is encouraging members of the community to attend a town hall meeting about the county’s Housing Needs Rezone Program on Aug. 9. Learn more

Veterans

New veteran benefits for those with toxic exposure

Veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange, burn pits or other toxic substances during their service can apply for new PACT Act benefits. There’s no deadline, but for backdated benefits, apply by Aug. 9. Get help from our Veterans Service Office 

Public safety

Placer Probation named MADD Outstanding Probation Agency of the Year

Our Probation Department was recently recognized for its contribution to ending drunk driving, helping fight drugged driving, supporting victims of these violent crimes and preventing underage drinking.
Read more

Community feedback

How your neighbors say they want to hear from the county

In our latest FlashVote survey, we asked our subscribers how they prefer to receive communications from us and what they want to hear about. See the results and sign up for FlashVote today to get future community surveys. Learn more

In other news

$5 pet adoptions all August as part of NBC’s “Clear the Shelters” event 

Read the latest Fire Safe Councils of Placer County newsletter

This week in Placer County history

On Aug. 4, 1948, Richard Wanko, who was in the custody of Inspector Cruickshank of the San Francisco Police Department, used a common ruse to escape. The two men were westbound on Southern Pacific train #27 and somewhere between Colfax and Applegate. Wanko asked Cruickshank if he could use the bathroom. Once inside, Wanko broke the window in the small restroom and jumped from the moving train.

Earlier in the year, Wanko was suspected of stealing a car, but he escaped police pursuit. Cruickshank eventually tracked Wanko to Boston where he was finally captured. The two were on their way back to San Francisco when Wanko made his daring escape. Blood was found on the frame of the broken window, indicating Wanko was injured. Placer County Sheriff Kenison and Colfax Constable McCleary organized a search, but no trace of Wanko was found.

On Aug. 12, a residence in Applegate was robbed of a suitcase, camera, food and cigarettes. Sheriff Kenison suspected it was Wanko, but the fugitive was gone. He was finally captured by local police in Altus, Oklahoma, in February 1949. Cruickshank wanted to take custody of Wanko, but he was tried and convicted of a pandering charge. Cruickshank had to wait until he was released from an Oklahoma prison in 1951 to take custody of Wanko and return him to San Francisco. Wanko was convicted of auto theft and escape. He served his time in San Quentin State Prison. Inspector Cruickshank retired from the San Francisco Police Department in 1966.

Photo: Southern Pacific train #27 in Roseville, c. 1952

Fun things to do this week

Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in...

Roseville: CommUNITY Picnic, Music in the Park, Food Truck Mania
Lincoln: Rally Around the Ribbons
Auburn: Vintage Vino and Vinyl Summer Series
North Lake Tahoe: First Friday at Muse Art Reclaimed, Music on the Beach, Concerts at Commons Beach, Blues Days in the Village, Tahoe City Lakeside Movie Series

...and many Placer County Library and Placer County Museum events.

Visit our regional partners to discover more of the fun happening right here in Placer County!

Placer County Visitors' Bureau
North Tahoe Community Alliance
Tahoe City Downtown Association
The Arts Council of Placer County
Placer Valley Tourism
PlacerGROWN
Placer Wine Trail

Find current state COVID-19 guidance, along with local data and resources, here.

Upcoming public meetings and events

Foresthill Forum, Aug. 7, 7 p.m. Information
Housing Needs Rezone Program town hall meeting, Aug. 9, 6 p.m. Information
Placer County Planning Commission meeting, Aug. 10, 10 a.m. Information
Zoning Administrator/Parcel Review Committee, Aug 10. 9 a.m. Information

To learn about other Placer County committees and commissions and current opportunities to serve your community click here.

List of active projects throughout Placer County

Projects are listed alphabetically and by Board of Supervisors districts. A hard copy of the list is available at the Placer County Community Development Resource Agency, 3091 County Center Drive in Auburn. 

Active Projects

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